The Public Defender:

            (1)      Shall assume general responsibility for the operation of the Office of Public Defender and all district offices;

            (2)      Shall prepare schedules of professional fees and expenses to be paid to panel attorneys and for other professional and technical services rendered to indigent persons other than by the Public Defender's staff, taking into consideration the nature of the services, the time expended, the skill or experience required, and any other pertinent factors;

            (3)      May formulate and adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article and to promote the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the office, its professional staff and other employees;

            (4)      Shall have the authority to make all necessary arrangements to coordinate services of the office with any federal program to provide counsel to the indigent, and to arrange for the receipt by the office of all moneys or services available to assist in the duties and obligations set forth under this article;

            (5)      Is authorized in Baltimore City to enter into contracts from time to time with private or public organizations that are equipped to provide legal, administrative or technical services for indigent persons. Every such contract shall require that the level and quality of the work shall be at least equal to that of the Office of the Public Defender, and that all services rendered thereunder shall be under the control and supervision of the Public Defender;

            (6)      May accept the services of volunteer workers or consultants at no compensation or at nominal or token compensation and reimburse them for their proper and necessary expenses;

            (7)      Shall consult and cooperate with professional bodies and groups with respect to the causes of criminal conduct, the development of effective means for reducing and discouraging the commission of crime, the rehabilitation and correction of persons charged and convicted of crime, the administration of criminal justice and the administration and conduct of the Office of the Public Defender;

            (8)      Shall keep and maintain proper financial and statistical records concerning all cases where the Office of the Public Defender provides legal assistance to an indigent person including data for use in the calculation of all direct and indirect costs incident to the operation of the office.